Lucha Libre USA wrestler RJ Brewer warms up backstage in the shadow of the Arizona flag moments before taking the stage against Lucha hero Blue Demon Jr. Brewer (John Stagikas) 32, plays the anti-immigration bad guy in the Mexican centric sport, and claims to be "the son of a powerful woman from Arizona."

RJ Brewer, preparing for his imminent match against the Blue Demon, tears his wrist tape with his teeth backstage in his locker room. Touring with the Lucha Libre wrestling league, RJ Brewer's mission is to rid wrestling of Mexican influences in America.

RJ Brewer waits backstage for his match against the Blue Demon at the Stockton Arena as part of the Masked Warriors Lucha Libre tour. As part of the tour, RJ Brewer's mission is to rid wrestling of Mexican influences in America. If Brewer won the match against his arch nemesis, the Blue Demon, the Blue Demon would be obligated to unmask himself.

Bringing his message to the mat

In the center of a starkly lighted wrestling ring, RJ Brewer glared at the overwhelmingly Latino crowd and spread the flag of Arizona across his back.

Buff, mean, white and glistening with baby oil, he snatched the microphone from the referee. “I come from the greatest city in the United States: Phoenix, Arizona!” the wrestler yelled in English. “Phoenix is the only city with a woman in power with the guts to get into the president’s face and address the real problem in this country!”

The audience knows that the “problem” he is referring to is illegal immigration. And the woman is his so-called mother — conservative Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the nation’s toughest law against illegal immigrants.

Characters are the stock in trade of pro wrestling, drawing audiences into its epic battles of good versus evil. And “RJ Brewer” — a shaved-headed, in-your-face crusader against illegal immigration created two years ago by the Mexican American wrestling promotion company Lucha Libre USA — is el mero malo, the chief bad guy.